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In addition to the care of People Living with HIV (PLHIV), Service Yezu Mwiza is one of the centers for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.

SYM laboratory recorded a total of 108 positive cases out of 932 test samples, of which 4 cases were Rifampicin-resistant, in fiscal year 2020. These samples come from various health care structures including the Bujumbura Mairie and Bujumbura, Association of Volunteers to Fight Tuberculosis within University Campuses (AVLT), to name a few.

After the positive diagnosis indicated by the GeneXpert machine when analyzing the sputum, associated with the symptoms of Tuberculosis, the patient is put on treatment. These symptoms include a dragging cough, fever, night sweating, lack of appetite, weight loss and prolonged fatigue.

Patients with pharmaco-sensitive pulmonary TB follow a treatment over a six-month period divided into two phases: the first phase for 2 months and the second phase for 4 months. Successful treatment requires patient adherence to treatment, hence the need for support by a health worker.

SYM has health mediators who accompany the patient in adherence to anti-tuberculosis treatment. TB patients come to our care structure every week to take their medication. 44 patients were treated at SYM in 2020, 11 of whom had TB/HIV co-infection.